Convertible tool



Aug. 22, 1939. B. F. cALDwELL CONVERTIBLE TOOL Filed June 8, 1938 L29 Z CdZtZZUQZZ IN VEN TOR.

' ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. '22, 1939 PATENT OFFICE CONVERTIBLE TOOL Benjamin Franklin Caldwell, San Dimas, Calif., assignor to Dorothy Ilene Caldwell, San Dimas,

Calif.

Application June 8, 1938, Serial No. 212,567

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a convertible tool and 'more especially to a tool the head portion of which is designed for two different purposes, dependent upon the angle at which the head is disposed relative to the handle.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved type of head having simple and efficient means for fastening it in either of two positions on the handle so that the tool can be converted quickly and, when so converted, will be held securely in the position to which it has been adjusted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the

invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is an elevation of the tool, the head being arranged for use as a spading fork.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section therethrough.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the tool converted into a raking tool or cultivator.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing another form of head utilizing a shovel blade so that the tool can be converted into either a shovel or a hoe.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference l designates the head of the tool which, in the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, comprises a cross bar from which are extended teeth 2. This head has a central ofiset portion 3 concave transversely in which is welded or otherwise secured a channelled arm 4. Extending from this arm at one end and across one edge of bar I is an arcuate plate 51 merging into segmental side wings 6 which extend through an angle of ninety degrees where they merge into another .arcuate plate 1 disposed substantially at right angles to the plate 5. This plate 1, in turn, merges at one end into a channelled arm 8 extending oppositely to the plate 5 and at right angles to arm 4 to which it is connected by integral wings 9at the sides thereof. A handle l0 having one end portion H disposed at an obtuse angle thereto, is used in connection with the head of the tool. Said end portion II is located between the wings 6 and the wings 9 and is pivotally and detachably joined thereto by a pinl2. This pin is so located as to permit the end portion II to swing between Wings 6 and wings 9 until those portions at opposite sides of the pivot pin l2 come against arm 4 and plate I, as shown in Figure 2, or come against the plate 5 and arm 8. When the parts are in the position first named the teeth. 2 are extended outwardly from the end of the handle so as to constitute the tines of a fork but when the parts are in the positions last described, the teeth extend downwardly relative to the handle, as shown in Figure 3 thereby to form a rake or cultivator.

When the parts are positioned as in Figure 2, arm 4 is adapted to be held tothe handle by means of a sleeve I3 which is slidable along the handle and is adapted to extend around arm 4, holding it pressed tightly against the handle. When the parts are positioned as in Figure 3, the

arm 8 abuts against and embraces the handle and is adapted to be held securely thereto by the sleeve I3. Obviously instead of providing a slidable sleeve on the handle, a split sleeve could be used.

It will be understood that in lieu of utilizing a toothed head such as shown in Figure 1, heads of other shapes can be employed. For example a shovel blade l4 can be connected to the handle [5 by the same means as those already described. The transversely bowed arm IS, in this construction, extends from an arcuate plate I! corresponding with plate 5 and this latter plate has side wings I8 corresponding with the wings '6 forming opposed walls of an angular recess E9 in the blade of the shovel at the center of the top thereof. The opposed or bottom wall of this recess constitutes a plate 20 corresponding with plate I which merges into a transversely bowed arm 2| similar to the arm 8. Obviously this head can be adjusted to either of two positions and held fixed to the handle because of the pivotal connection 22, the fastening means 23 being similar to those already described in connection with the structure shown in Figure 1.

It has been found that by providing a bend in the handle as shown either of the tools can be used to better advantage as a digging tool because of the angle of the free end portion of the handle relative to the head. This shape of the handle is also advantageous in both cases 0 when the tool is used as a rake or cultivator or as a hoe because the free end portion of the handle is inclined upwardly and can be more conveniently held and operated than if the handle .-Should be straight. The pivot pins are removable so that different heads can be connected to the handle as desired.

By referring to the two forms of the invention illustrated, it will be found that in both of the structures, the parts formed by the arms, arouate plates and side wings, cooperate to form What might be called a socket having flat sides and 0ppositely extended flared open ends, the handle being mounted to swing within this socket where it is guided against lateral displacement by the flat side walls or wings ii and 9 or l8 thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the class described including a head, a socket integral with the head, said socket having flat sides and being open at opposite ends, the socket being flared toward its open ends, arms extending from the socket at angles to each other, and a handle pivotally mounted within the socket and extending between the arms, said handle being shiftable into engagement with either arm, and means on the handle for binding either arm to the handle, thereby to hold the head against movement relative to the handle.

2. A tool of the class described including a head, a socket integral with the head and having opposite open ends, the side walls of the socket being flat and the remaining walls being flared outwardly toward the respective ends, transversely bowed arms extending from the socket at angles to each other and beyond one of said open ends, a handle seated in and extending beyond the socket, said handle being pivotally joined to the side walls of the socket between the open ends, either of said arms being shiftable against the handle to embrace it, thereby to hold the head in either of two positions relative to the handle, and means on the handle for engaging either of the arms to bind it .to the handle.

3. A tool of the class described including a head, opposed diverging arms extending from the head, side wings connecting the arms, arcuate stop plates extending from the respective arms, side wings connecting said plates, a handle pivotally mounted between the side Wings, said handle being positioned between the arms and movable against and limited in its movement by either arm and one of the stop plates, thereby to position the head in either of two positions relative to the handle, each of said arms being bowed transversely to straddle the handle, and means movably mounted on the handle for engaging either arm to bind said arm .to the handle and hold the head against movement relative to the handle.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CALDWELL. 

